Drink containers with unremovable closures

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to containers for drinks such as water, beverage, and the like with non-removable closures, and more particularly to drink containers with non-removable closures that allow the user to open the containers without completely removing the closure from the containers. According to one embodiment of the present invention the drink container has a non-removable closure that is provided with a rotating disk on top of the receiving member to open or close the orifice on the receiving member on top of the drink bottle. When the rotating disk member&#39;s hole aligns with the receiving member&#39;s hole, a channel is formed for drink to leave from the bottle. When the holes are not aligned, the drink is blocked by the body of the rotating member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers for drinks, such as water, beverage, and the like with non-removable closures, and more particularly to drink containers with non-removable closures that allow the user to open the containers without completely removing the closure from the containers.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known in the prior art that non-removable closures are used with containers for hazardous chemicals, highly corrosive products, cleaning detergents, pharmaceuticals, etc. to prevent removal of the closure. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,605 to Clodfelter et al. discloses a bottle having a modified neck and intended for use with a child-resistant closure which allows the user to open the bottle without removing the closure completely from the bottle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,127 to Barriac et al. discloses a non-removable closure assembly for connecting a manually actuated liquid dispenser to a container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,332 to Whitacre discloses a waste disposal container having a non-removable, permanently sealing, threaded closure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,496 to Montaner et al. discloses a dispenser having its closure cap non-removably affixed to a cylindrical attaching portion of its dispenser body by a snap-fit engagement.

However, most of commercially available drink containers' closures such as bottle cap, lids, and the like are removable; children may choke on these closures if they are removed from the containers.

The background technology necessary to carry out the present invention is readily available; however, this inventive concept has not been suggested. None of these patents teaches utilizing non-removable closure for drink containers in order to decrease the hazards of children swallowing the bottle caps or lids.

Therefore, there exists a need to provide drink containers that have non-removable closures so that the closure can be opened but cannot be completely detached from the containers in order to provide children additional safety protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide drink containers with non-removable closures so that children won't accidentally choke on or swallow the closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide drink containers with non-removable closures so that the users do not need to return the closures to the containers.

The first type of drink container according to the present invention has a non-removable cap that is provided with a pull and push spout, which has a blocker to open or close the aperture for water outflow. In one embodiment, the non-removable cap having ratchet teeth to cooperate with the ratchet teeth on the bottle neck such that the cap is locked onto the bottle body to prevent removal of the cap. The ratchet teeth system is known to persons having ordinary skills in the art. For example, the expired U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,691 discloses a child resistant bottle closure providing ratchet teeth inside the closure in engagement with ratchet teeth on the outside of the container neck finish. In another embodiment, other non-removable closure techniques known in the art such as heat sealing, ultrasound welding, gluing, etc. may be used. In one embodiment, the closure is a screw cap; in another embodiment, the closure is a snap-fit cap. The drink container of the present invention may further comprise a drinking tube inside the drink bottle.

The second type of drink container according to the present invention has a non-removable closure that is provided with a rotating disk on top of the receiving member to open or close the orifice on the receiving member on top of the drink bottle. When the rotating disk member's hole aligns with the receiving member's hole, a channel is formed for drink to leave from the bottle. When the holes are not aligned, the drink is blocked by the body of the rotating member. In this embodiment, the receiving member is an integral part of the drink bottle and the rotating top is a non-removable closure designed to permanently attach to the receiving member unless it is detached by strong force. The drink container may further comprise a spout and a drinking tube. In another embodiment, the drink bottle may have a spout on the side wall of the bottle and the cap containing an aperture on the side wall of the cap. When the aperture on the side wall of the cap aligns with the opening of the spout, a channel is formed to allow the liquid to flow out of the bottle. Otherwise, the opening of the spout on the side wall of the bottle is blocked by the cap.

The third type of drink container according to the present invention has a non-removable closure that is provided with a pouring spout. The non-removable cap having ratchet teeth to cooperate with the ratchet teeth on the bottle neck such that the cap is locked onto the bottle body to prevent removal of the cap. The non-removable cap may also be an integrally molded to the bottle. The cap further comprises a pouring spout that can be opened by depressing a thumb pad on the cap to allow the liquid flow out of the bottle. By releasing the thumb pad the pouring spout can be closed.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a drink container with a non-removable closure in open mode according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the same embodiment presented in FIG. 1A in closed configuration;

FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along lines 2A-2A of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along lines 2B-2B of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drink container with a non-removable closure in open mode according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the same embodiment presented in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the same embodiment presented in FIG. 3 in closed configuration;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the same embodiment presented in FIG. 3 in open mode;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drink container with an non-removable closure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the same embodiment presented in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the same embodiment presented in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is disclosed an embodiment of a drink bottle with an non-removable cap according to the present invention. Both of FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the first embodiment 100 according to the present invention in open mode allowing the liquid to pass through the opening. FIG. 1B shows the same embodiment as in FIG. 1A in closed configuration. The first embodiment comprises a bottle body 10 and a liquid-tight cap 20 provided with a spout 30 for delivering a stream of fluid from the bottle.

FIG. 2A shows a sectional view of the embodiment presented in FIG. 1A wherein the spout on the cap is in open mode. The cap 20 has helical threads 22 on the interior annular surface 24 for mating engagement with similar helical thread 12 on the exterior surface of the bottle neck 14. The cap 20 having ratchet teeth 28 to cooperate with the ratchet teeth 16 on the bottle neck 14 such that the cap 20 is locked onto bottle body 10 to prevent removal of the cap 20 upon unscrewing the cap 20.

Alternatively, the cap 20 can be snap-fit cap. There are a variety of means known in the art for making closure 20 a non-removable closure and permanently attached to the bottle, such as heat sealing, ultra sound welding, gluing, etc.

The spout 30 is mounted onto the top wall 26 of the cap 20. The spout 30 is in circular shape having a inner tube 31, which is connected to the top wall 26 of the cap 20; a outer tube 32, which is tightly held against the inner tube 31; a circular top wall with an aperture 38 at the center 33; a blocker 34 in circular shape; and a plurality of strings 35 that are connected to the upper end of the inner tube 31 to support the blocker. On the outside surface 36 of the inner tube 31, there exists one stopping tab member 37 around the exterior circumferential edge of the inner tube 31 to control the relative position between the outer tube 32 and inner tube 31. The stopping tab 37 holds up the outer tube 32 from falling and control how far the outer tube 32 can be pulled up. When the spout 30 is in open mode as shown in FIG. 2A, the outer tube 32 is pulled up, the blocker 34 is relatively push down such that the aperture 38 is open allowing the liquid to flow out of the bottle 100. When the spout 30 is in the closed configuration as shown in FIG. 2B, the outer tube 32 is pushed down, the blocker 34 is relatively pulled up such that the aperture 38 is blocked by the blocker 34, preventing the liquid flow out of the bottle 100.

The sports bottle with non-removable screw cap may further contain a drinking tube (not shown) attached to the inside wall surface of the inner wall 31.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is disclosed a perspective view of a second embodiment 200 of a drink bottle with a non-removable closure, and FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 there is disclosed a sectional view of the embodiment presented in FIG. 3. The second embodiment 200 comprises a rotating disk member 40, a receiving member 50, and a bottle body 60. The rotating disk member 40 is a solid disk having a top surface 41, a bottom surface 42, a circumferential edge 43, and a hole 44 that penetrates through the rotating disk 40. The rotating disk member 40 has a protrusion member 45 in the middle of the entire circumferential edge 43, and a bottom tip 46 at the center of the bottom surface 42.

The receiving member 50 located on the top of the drink bottle body 60 has a solid panel 51 with a hole 52 that penetrates the panel 51 to control the liquid flow out of the bottle body 60, and a wall 53 extending upward from and around the circumferential edge 54 of the solid panel 51 to form a recess 55 that is similar in dimension to the rotating disk member 40. The receiving member 50 further has a circular groove 56 residing in the interior side of the wall 53 to fit the protrusion member 45, and an indentation 57 located at the center of the top surface of the solid panel 51 to hold the bottom tip 46 such that the receiving disk member 40 is placed within the recess 55 and suspended on top of the solid panel 51 of the receiving member 50. The distance between rotating disk member 40 and the solid panel 51 should be sufficiently far to allow free rotation of the rotating disk 40 but close enough to allow tight sealing.

The rotating disk member 40 can rotate 360 degrees within the recess on top of the solid panel 51 of the receiving member 50 through the protrusion member 45 being guided through the groove 56 and the bottom tip 46 spinning on top of the indentation 57. When the hole 44 in the rotating disk member 40 aligns with the hole 52 in the solid panel 51 of the receiving member 50, a channel is formed for drink to leave from the bottle body 60 as demonstrated in FIG. 5. When the holes 44, 52 are not aligned, the drink is blocked by the solid part of the rotating disk member 40 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the receiving member 50 is an integral part of the drink bottle 60; the receiving member 50 may be integrally molded to the bottle body 60 or manufactured together with the bottle body 60 by injection molding. The rotating disk member 40 is a non-removable closure designed to permanently attach to the receiving member 50 unless is intentionally removed by strong force.

The second embodiment 200 may further comprises a spout 47 connecting to the rotating disk member 40 around the border of the hole 44 in the rotating disk 40 and extending upwardly and outwardly away from the center of the rotating disk 40. Moreover, the second embodiment 200 may further comprises a drinking tube 58 that is connecting to the solid panel 51 of the receiving member 50 around the border of the hole 52 in the receiving member 50 and extending downward inside the bottle body 60.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is disclosed a perspective view of a third embodiment 300 of a drink bottle with a non-removable closure. FIGS. 8 and 9 disclose a sectional view of the embodiment presented in FIG. 7. The third embodiment 300 comprises a bottle body 70, and a non-removable cap 80 with integral pouring spout 85. The cap 80 includes a top wall 81 and a circumferential side wall 82 that is adjacent to the top wall 81. The circumferential side wall 82 and top wall 81 thereby define an interior cavity. The circumferential side wall 82 is molded to form an integral semi-circle shaped lower spout portion 85 a and an integral semi-circle shaped upper spout portion 85 b, both extending outward from the circumferential side wall 82. The upper spout and the lower spout thereby define a circular channel 83 to allow liquid flow out of the bottle. The channel 83 can be in various shapes depending on the shape of the lower and upper spout portions 85 a, 85 b.

A pivot point 87 located inside the interior cavity and suspended downward from top wall 81 is designed to support a lever arm 86, which has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end extends through the circumferential side wall 82 to form a thumb pad 88. The proximal end attach to a silicon valve 89 which is next to the rectangular bore 83.

A lever arm 86 has a proximal end closer to the aperture 84 and a distal end closer to the slot 83. A lever arm 86 supported by a pivot point 87 located within the interior cavity extends from the aperture 84, through the interior cavity, to the outside of the slot 83 such that the proximal end forms a thumb pad 88 and the distal end forms a planar upper spout portion 85 b. When the thumb pad 88 is pressed, the lever arm 86 is raised at the distal end, the silicon valve 89 is raised up, and thereby the fluid channel is open to allow the liquid flow out of the bottle body 70 as disclosed in FIG. 8. When the thumb pad 88 is not pressed, the lever arm 86 is leveled thereby the silicon valve 89 is not moved, the fluid channel is closed as presented in FIG. 9.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled. 

1. A drink container with a non-removable closure comprising: (a) a drink bottle body; (b) a rotating disk member being a solid disk with a hole that penetrates its height, having a slight protrusion member on its circumferential edge, and a bottom tip located at the center on its bottom; and (c) a receiving member located on the top of said drink bottle body having a solid panel with a hole that penetrates said panel to control the liquid flow out of said bottle body, a wall extending upward from and along the circumferential edge of said solid panel to form a recess that is similar in dimension to said rotating disk member, a circular groove residing in the interior side of said wall where said protrusion member of said rotating disk is fitted into and an indentation located at the center of the top surface of said receiving member where said bottom tip of said rotating disk is fitted into such that said receiving disk member is placed within said recess and suspended on top of said solid panel of said receiving member.
 2. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 1, wherein said rotating disk member can rotate 360 degrees on top of said receiving member via said protrusion member being guided through said groove and said bottom tip spinning on top of said indentation.
 3. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 1, wherein said hole in said rotating disk member aligns with said hole in said receiving member forming a channel for drink to flow out of said bottle body.
 4. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 1, wherein said receiving member being integrally molded to the bottle body.
 5. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 1, wherein said receiving member together with bottle body can be manufactured by injection molding.
 6. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 1 further comprises a spout connecting to said rotating disk member around the border of said hole in said rotating disk and extending upwardly and outwardly away from the center of said rotating disk.
 7. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 1 further comprises a drinking tube connecting to said receiving member around the border of said hole in said receiving member and extending downward inside the bottle body.
 8. A drink container with a non-removable closure comprising: (a) a drink bottle body having ratchet teeth on the exterior surface of a bottle neck; (b) a cap having ratchet teeth to cooperate with said ratchet teeth on said bottle neck; and (c) a spout being in circular shape, having an inner tube, an outer tube, a circular top wall with an aperture at the center, a blocker in circular shape, a plurality of strings attached to said inner tube to support said blocker, and a stopping tab member located around the exterior circumferential edge of said inner tube to control the relative position between said inner tube and outer tube.
 9. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 8, wherein said cap has helical threads on the interior annular surface for mating engagement with similar helical thread on the exterior surface of said bottle neck.
 10. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 8, wherein said cap is a snap fit cap.
 11. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 8, wherein said outer tube being pulled up causing said blocker relatively pushed down thus said aperture is open allowing the liquid to flow out of said bottle body.
 12. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 8, wherein said outer tube being pushed down causing said blocker relatively pulled up thus said aperture is blocked by said blocker, preventing the liquid flow out of said bottle body.
 13. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 8, wherein the non-removable closure may utilize other techniques known in the art such as heat sealing, ultra sound welding, gluing, etc.
 14. The drink container with a non-removable closure of claim 8 further comprises a drinking tube attached to said inner tube and extending downwardly inside said bottle body.
 15. A drink container with a non-removable closure comprising: a drink bottle body having ratchet teeth on the exterior surface of a bottle neck; and a cap having ratchet teeth to cooperate with said ratchet teeth on said bottle neck including: (a) a top wall; (b) a circumferential side wall that is adjacent to said top wall, said circumferential side wall and top wall thereby define an interior cavity; (c) said circumferential side wall is molded to form an integral lower spout portion and upper spout portion, said lower portion and upper portion define a channel; (d) a pivot point located within the interior cavity; and (e) a straight lever arm having a proximal end attached to a valve, which is inside said cap and next to said channel, and a distal end extending through said circumferential side wall forming a thumb pad.
 16. The non-removable closure with an integral pouring spout of claim 15, wherein said valve is raised and said channel of said cap is closed when said thumb pad is pressed to allow the liquid flow out of the bottle.
 17. The non-removable closure with an integral pouring spout of claim 15, wherein said valve is not raised up and said channel of said cap is closed when said thumb pad is not pressed such that the liquid flow path is blocked. 